October 15, 2015 issue of Research Development & Grant Writing News

Planning for Narrative Synergy. “Too many think of synergy as pixie dust, a narrative glitter sprinkled on the project description a day or two prior to the due date, rather than understanding it for what it truly is: a long-planned-for structural framework and connective tissue. It evolves along with the project’s vision, goals, and objectives and guides how research ideas are developed, discussed in team meetings, and described in multiple iterations of narrative text. ”

Don’t Let Your Proposal Wear a Disguise on Halloween. “Unfortunately, a number of all too common scary costumes can so successfully disguise a potentially fundable idea that the significance of the idea becomes unrecognizable to reviewers.”

Has Your BAA Been Superseded? “BAAs represent an often overlooked funding source for new faculty, particularly given that the application process defines a general area of research interest by the agency but allows applicants to more narrowly define their research interests and expertise that might fit the agency mission…”

Developing Timelines and Milestone Charts for Your Proposal. “Many solicitations require that you provide a schedule, timeline or milestone chart for your proposal, and even when they aren’t explicitly required it’s often a good idea to include one… However, many PIs are unsure how to develop timelines and milestone charts. Below we provide an overview of various approaches to developing this component of your proposal. ”

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About Jessica Venable

Coordinator for Research Development Services, VCU Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation